A new report analyzes threats and stressors caused by generative AI, with 51% of security professionals saying they are likely to leave their job over the next year.

Deep Instinct's fourth edition of its Voice of SecOps Report “Generative AI and Cybersecurity: Bright Future or Business Battleground?” – conducted by Sapio Research, surveyed more than 650 senior security operations professionals in the U.S., including CISOs and CIOs.

The study highlights the impact of generative AI in the cybersecurity industry, analyzing the technology’s positive and negative effect on organizations’ security postures and preparedness. The report reveals 75% of security professionals witnessed an increase in attacks over the past 12 months, with 85% attributing this rise to bad actors using generative AI.

Other key report highlights: 

• 70% of security professionals say generative AI is positively impacting employee productivity and collaboration, with 63% stating the technology has also improved employee morale. 
• 75% of security professionals witnessed an increase in attacks over the past 12 months, with 85% attributing this rise to bad actors using generative AI. 
• 46% agree that ransomware is the greatest threat to their organization’s data security and 62% admit that ransomware is the number one C-suite concern, up from 44% in 2022.
• The pressure to address the ongoing threat of ransomware is causing organizations to shift their data security approach, with 47% of respondents now possessing a policy to pay the ransom, versus 34% in 2022.
• 55% of security professionals say their stress levels have increased, with the top reason being staffing and resource limitations at 42%.